How to Care for a Corkscrew Grass Marshland Plant

Corkscrew grass (Juncus effusus "Spiralis"), also known as corkscrew rush, produces medium green stems that curl in a spiral pattern. The upright, vase-shape habit combined with the curly-cue stems adds a sharp texture to landscape plantings. Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9, corkscrew grass grows best in full to partial sunlight and moist, nutrient-rich soils. To prevent its spread into undesired garden areas, this plant is best grown in containers buried in the ground.

1

Water corkscrew grass when the top one-half to one inch of soil becomes dry. Flood the soil surrounding the plant with water from a garden hose until water remains on the soil's surface. Never let the soil dry out completely.

2

Mix a 10-10-10 nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium water-soluble fertilizer at a rate of 1/2 teaspoon per gallon of water in a watering can. Pour the fertilizer onto the soil surrounding the plant at a rate of 1/4 gallon per 2 1/2 square feet of soil. Apply the fertilizer once every four weeks during the active growing season.

3

Pull weeds from the area around the corkscrew grass as they appear. Spread a 1-inch layer of bark mulch over the soil surrounding the plant to retain moisture and reduce weed growth.

4

Cut the corkscrew grass plant back completely with a pair of pruning shears in the late fall or early winter when its growth slows. Cut through the stems 1/4 to 1/2 inch above ground level. Discard the cut stems, placing them in a trash can or on a compost pile.

5

Dig up the corkscrew grass with a shovel every one to two years in the spring, once new growth begins, to divide it. Dig four to six inches away from the grass' perimeter and down to a depth of eight to 10 inches.

6

Push the shovel horizontally under the plant to free it from the surrounding soil. Lift the plant out of the ground and shake excess soil from the roots. Cut the grass' root ball into two or three equal sections with a trowel or knife.

7

Place one of the grass sections back into the center of the hole, positioning the top of its root ball even with the surrounding ground. Fill the hole with additional soil, tamping it around the root ball. Water the plant thoroughly. Replant the remaining divisions in new areas if desired, spacing the plants two and-a-half to three feet apart

8

Check the grass' foliage for the presence of green-bodied aphids, slugs or snails each time you water. Spray foliage infested with aphids with an insecticidal soap or neem oil. Clear the ground near the plant of debris and dead plant material periodically to remove hiding places for snails and slugs. Set out snail and slug traps around the plant to keep these pests from eating the corkscrew grass.

Things You Will Need

Garden hose

10-10-10 (n-p-k) water-soluble fertilizer

Watering can

Bark mulch

Pruning shears

Shovel

Trowel or knife

Tips

Grow corkscrew grass in buried containers to decrease its invasiveness in the landscape.

Leave the pot of corkscrew grass above ground to decorate a deck, patio or porch.

Potted corkscrew grass grows well when submerged in water up to four inches above its root ball.

Warning

Avoid planting corkscrew grass directly into the ground as it spreads easily in the landscape once established.